Thousands of people protesting against US drone strikes have blocked a road in northwest Pakistan used to truck NATO troop supplies and equipment in and out of Afghanistan.

The protest yesterday led by Pakistani politician and former cricket star Imran Khan, had more symbolic value than practical impact as there is normally little NATO supply traffic on the road on Saturdays.

It is the latest sign of rising tension caused by the US drone attacks.

The blocked route in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province leads to one of two border crossings used to send supplies overland from Pakistan to neighbouring Afghanistan.

Khan, whose Tehreek-e-Insaf party runs the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, called on federal officials to take a firmer stance to force the US to end drone attacks and block NATO supplies across the country.

"We will put pressure on America, if drone attacks are not stopped our protest will continue all over Pakistan," Khan told protesters.

Around 10,000 people participated in Saturday's protest.

The protesters included members of Khan's party and two other parties that are coalition partners in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

They shouted anti-US slogans, such as "Down with America" and "Stop drone attacks."

The demonstrators dispersed after Khan's speech, but his party put out a statement saying they will begin stopping trucks from carrying NATO supplies through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa indefinitely beginning on Sunday night.

The party's action could spark a clash with the federal government.

The US Embassy in Islamabad has declined to comment.

The US leads the coalition of NATO troops battling the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Drone strikes have been a growing source of friction between Islamabad and Washington.

Mr Khan and other officials regularly denounce the attacks as a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty, although the country's government is known to have supported some of the strikes in the past.

The tension has further complicated a relationship that Washington views as vital to fight al-Qaida and the Taliban, as well as negotiate peace in Afghanistan.

The protest comes only two days after a rare US drone strike outside of Pakistan's remote tribal region killed five people, including at least three Afghan militants, at an Islamic seminary in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

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